Marvel Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn slammed for sexist and homophobic slurs

Promo art for Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy. The film is an important part of its plans for The Avengers 2. Picture: Marvel Source: Supplied

SOMETIMES the internet isn't the best place to try out risqué humour. Especially when the people you are making fun of have hired you to direct a massively expensive family movie that's hugely important to their business.

James Gunn is the man Marvel films and its parent company, Disney, have trusted to make Guardians of the Galaxy, a space opera fantasy that will set up the sequel to The Avengers.

But a controversial blog Gunn posted on his website last year - The 50 Superheroes You Most Want to Have Sex With - has started to make headlines for all the wrong reasons and may end up costing him his job.

Warning: graphic language below

The list, which was voted upon by Twitter and Facebook users with commentary added by Gunn, has been slammed for the extremely sexist and homophobic slurs it contains.

It mysteriously disappeared from Gunn's website this week but unfortunately for Gunn it’s still available by Google cache.

Gunn, who is primarily known for his 2010 superhero comedy Super, makes homophobic jibes about the male superheroes on the list and uses graphic language to describe the acts he would like to perform on the female superheroes.

He calls X-Men's Gambit a "Cajun fruit" and says that the thought of satisfying a girlfriend's threesome fantasy with him "makes me sick to my stomach".

He also says that Iron Man's alter-ego Tony Stark "can turn" lesbian character Batwoman and that The Flash's inclusion on the list is down to the votes of gay men.

Of X-23, a 15-year-old mutant in X-Men, he says: "A pretty good choice. Except, uh, isn’t she supposed to be fifteen years old? And after you fictionally f*** her fictional police are going to arrest you and put you in fictional jail for being a very real pedophile."

And he reduces Batgirl to this: "Being a teen mom and all, you know she’s easy. Go for it."

Although the comments are intended to be humorous, they have disgusted comic fans. Geek girl website TheMarySue.com summed up the harsh criticism: "What’s wrong is the sheer amount of slut-shaming (on only the female characters) and anti-gay language that Gunn directs towards the majority of the male characters.

"These are not opinions befitting somebody who’s been given the task of bringing a major part of the Marvel Universe to the big screen (a set of characters, I might add, that includes a lesbian superhero couple, not that they’ll be appearing in Guardians)."

Marvel has yet to respond to the blog.

Guardians of the Galaxy is due for release in 2014 and is huge risk for Marvel as it features a bizarre cast of characters, including a giant tree-man and a gun-toting raccoon. The film is supposed to set up the plot of The Avengers 2.

The Avengers made $1.5 billion at the box office and is the third highest grossing film of all time.

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Comments on this story

Big D of Brisbane Posted at 2:37 PM November 29, 2012

seriously???
Who cares?!?!
So what... move on people
the world has become entirely too sensitive and over the top
FUN POLICE EVERYWHERE YOU LOOK.

Comment 1 of 27

Its my right too of Sydney Posted at 2:36 PM November 29, 2012

Its a pity how people are trying to get rid of my basic right of opinion to uphold their own beliefs, choices and respective, If we ban all ideologies and speech that can offend someone somewhere we basically taking away the highest form of human rights, that is the right of having an opinion.

Comment 2 of 27

Jealous Issues Posted at 2:31 PM November 29, 2012

Ladies, ladies, ladies jealous much?
I know you wish you could look like the super heroines in the comics, put down the Tim Tams, get off the lounge, exercise shop at a bondage store and get a boob job.

Comment 3 of 27

Random internet guy Posted at 2:16 PM November 29, 2012

Dads and husbands of the world, do you get offended at all the stupid dads/husbands as portrayed in tv ads and sitcoms. Lets get them banned, I bet its womenz who write them

Comment 4 of 27

Cymek Posted at 2:14 PM November 29, 2012

Can' t think of much that offends me, perhaps the need the media feels to publish CCTV of nasty stuff that happens to people, I just don't click on the link. Comic books characters give me a break, don't read the damn blog. If it offends you but isn't illegal just don't watch, listen or read it, simple really.

Comment 5 of 27

Bella of StruggleTown Posted at 2:10 PM November 29, 2012

Why is it we find it totally acceptable to laugh at a joke about one subject (ie irish, blondes etc) yet carry on when it's about a subject that you personally don't like?? We are becoming over the top with our 'political correctness'.

Comment 6 of 27

TonyH of Brisbane Posted at 2:04 PM November 29, 2012

Funny Stuff made my day,

Comment 7 of 27

Justin of CQ Posted at 2:03 PM November 29, 2012

Have to agree with all the comments so far. This was in its entirity intended to be satire about FICTIONAL characters. Get a grip people!

Comment 8 of 27

Dj of Vic Posted at 2:02 PM November 29, 2012

An a morosely overweight cross-dressing superhero with a self-gratification fetish, Your comments have deeply offended me. I will have to go for intensive counseling. I will be suing you for $13.5 trillion to reestablish my self worth.......

Comment 9 of 27

Lowest Common Denominator Posted at 2:01 PM November 29, 2012

I am heartily sick of being told I'm not allowed to be offended at sexist, racist or homophobic "jokes" because of so-called political correctness. I cannot fathom why people think using graphic sexual and degrading language about women and gay people is even remotely clever. Obviously none of you have ever been objectified, debased or humiliated just for being who you are.

Comment 10 of 27

norma-rae Posted at 2:00 PM November 29, 2012

Really? All these poor precious little flowers, jumping up and down whenever they feel "offended". Please, for the sake of humanity, stop complaining about what someone else said!! It's none of your business, just stop being so delicate. It's a joke; don't like it? Don't read it.

Comment 11 of 27

Andrew of Eastwood Posted at 2:00 PM November 29, 2012

hopefully this sick man james gunn should will be arrested and jailed for the rest of his life over this.

Comment 12 of 27

Calm Down of Sydney Posted at 1:58 PM November 29, 2012

Pathetic! The only reason these minority-group of over sensitive people have the confidence to speak up is because of the perceived "anonymity" of the internet. BE WARNED: if you have an opinion you will be targeted and ordered to conform or else prepare for a certain activist group to start harassing you

Comment 13 of 27

Janet Kingston of Melbourne Posted at 1:57 PM November 29, 2012

I love how ignorant bigots always resort to "Political correctness has gone mad!" whenever they are called out for being ... yep you guessed it, ignorant bigots! The only people who think political correctness "has gone too far" are those who are too stupid, mean-spiriteded, and ignorant to even know what it's like to interact with the world WITHOUT being offensive.

Comment 14 of 27

Here We Go again of Melbourne Posted at 1:55 PM November 29, 2012

You know what I think is HILARIOUS? It's the predictable responses news.com.au readers (and I'm surprised they can even read, tbh) always give to stories like this: "The fun police are at it again! No one knows how to take a joke anymore! Wah Wah Wah why can't we just be allowed to be ignorant bigots and make fun of women and gays????" These predictable responses are what I find hilarious. And what do I find scary? Just how many Australians don't know how to be funny without insulting women and gays. Sad, and FAIL.

Comment 15 of 27

John Dark Posted at 1:53 PM November 29, 2012

He didn't say anything 90% of standup comedians wouldn't have. Of course, he's not as funny as them, but it is quite clear the remarks were made and meant to be taken in jest. Except for his question on "why is a 15 year old on that list?", and he's dead right on that too.
There are far too many of the Professionally Offended Brigade around these days.

Comment 16 of 27

Thomas C of Brisbane Posted at 1:51 PM November 29, 2012

Why is this guy wasting his time as a director/producer when he could be a comedian? This is absolute GOLD!

Comment 17 of 27

The Other Mike of Adelaide Posted at 1:49 PM November 29, 2012

I thought this was hilarious. The thought-police can move along to quarters where everyone dresses in grey business wear, acts exactly the same and doesn't say anything bad about anything.

Comment 18 of 27

Duane of Adelaide Posted at 1:47 PM November 29, 2012

The Eleventh Commandment: Thou shalt not make a joke about anything, lest thou upset someone... somewhere.

Comment 19 of 27

Batta of Brisbane Posted at 1:47 PM November 29, 2012

OMG a person having fun and saying what they think, this must be stamped out, society must clamp down on this! We need everyone thinking and talking in the same politically correct manner, this is what freedom is all about.

Comment 20 of 27

Jon Posted at 1:36 PM November 29, 2012

I agree with the peopole who think this is funny. It's sad when people are being given a hard time for being funny. This guys just having laugh and it's not a bad thing to do that... come on guys take off your skin tight leather outfits and put down the horse wip. Have a laugh you silly sods.

Comment 21 of 27

Owen of Adelaide Posted at 1:34 PM November 29, 2012

This is insanely over sensitive.

Comment 22 of 27

Mirin Gaines of Sydney Posted at 1:34 PM November 29, 2012

@Shaneovski of Pakenham
Unfortunately, the more the years go by in this modern world, the more PC society becomes. You're not even allowed to say the tiniest things things these days, or someone would get offended.
Why do we bow down and bend over to people that are a minority? Society never use to do that. It has only been like that in the last 50 years ever since Cultural Marxism took over.

Comment 23 of 27

Sean Posted at 1:29 PM November 29, 2012

SOMEONE IS POSTING HYPOTHETICALS ON THE INTERNET!!!
PUT A BLOCK ON ALL THE ISPS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS OFFENDED!
The sooner we remove defamation and slander laws the sooner people will have to learn to live with what is said. If vibrations in the air travelling from another humans mouth and past your ears is too much for you then you have waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay more problems than the people you take offence to. Vis-a-vis for text.
You would think after 30 years people would have slooooowly figured out that the internet is a playground and sometimes you'll get sand thrown at you - it doesn't mean you have to ruin the sandpit for everyone.

Comment 24 of 27

Patrick Bateman Posted at 1:27 PM November 29, 2012

Political correctness has gone way to far. It's pathetic that people are even offended about this. Grow up and toughen up.

Comment 25 of 27

Graig Posted at 1:09 PM November 29, 2012

These are the days where humor is dead, anyone who dares makes a joke or even crack a smile could be put before a firing squad or hung for the heinous crime of laughter.

Comment 26 of 27

Shaneovski of Pakenham Posted at 1:00 PM November 29, 2012

Was the world always like this? Everything has to be PC or its condemed. What happened to "if you dont like it, ignore it". I mean this is about fictional characters for gods sake.

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